News

First National O’Donoghues (Darwin, NT) has, for the second year in a row, raised an incredible sum of money for Royal Darwin Hospital Children’s Ward through First National Foundation.

In early September, Melbourne’s Dance City Productions entertained 110 sponsors, guests, clients and staff at a fundraising lunch in Darwin’s CBD.

According to principal Jeremy O’Donoghue’s assistant, Harriet Kitharidis, the event would not have been possible without the support and generosity of many local businesses.

A cheque from First National Foundation will shortly be handed to the hospital to assist its cause.

Last year, as a result of the $33,843 raised at a similar FN O’Donoghues function, the children’s ward was able to purchase 24 bedside flat screen TVs and 10 sofa beds, which enable parents of sick kids to beaccommodated overnight.

Bushfires, heatwaves, cyclones, storms and floods can strike at anytime,
but being prepared for the consequences can save lives and help people to get back
on their feet more quickly, according to First National Foundation chairmanSimon O’Donoghue.

First National Foundation has teamed up with Red Cross to help people
and communities across Australia prepare for disasters and emergencies.

This week is Disaster Preparedness Week (7 to 14 September) and we want
people to understand how important it is to have a plan as we head into that
time of year when disasters are more likely to occur.

“Each year, our sponsorship of Australian Red Cross plays an important
role in sharing information about how to prepare for natural disasters” Simon O’Donoghue said.

“By helping people think ahead and prepare their properties,
we help put them in a better position to respond if the worst comes to the
worst”.

John Richardson, Australian Red Cross National Coordinator Emergency
Preparedness, says the impact of a disaster can last for years and can cause
huge stress to you and your loved ones.

“People who’ve prepared and planned for an emergency often have a
resilience that helps them recover faster than others, both financially and
emotionally.”

Being well prepared means understanding the hazards, being connected to
people in your community and having an emergency plan and emergency kit, says
Mr Richardson.

“An important part of that emergency plan is knowing how you’ll protect
what’s most important – from your photo albums and passports to your child’s
teddy and family heirlooms.”

Emergency REDiPlan is a set of free resources, including planning
templates, activity sheets, booklets and face-to-face information sessions, to
help people prepare for any type of disaster. These resources are available
from Red Cross’ website or from your local Red Cross office.

REDiPlan was developed by Red Cross with the support of First National
Foundation, which has contributed more than $1.6 million. This year the
Foundation is also donating $45,000 to develop a REDiPlan smart phone app.

At First
National’s recent Annual Convention in Darwin, several members got up close and
personal with the Northern Territory’s iconic Saltwater Crocodiles at Darwin’s Crocosaurus
Cove.

They’d
successfully bid in a 2014 FN Foundation fundraiser for the opportunity
to share a swim with the monster crocs, from the safety of the ‘Cage of Death’.

During
the network’s national GEM Awards dinner comedian, John Blackman hosted a
fundraiser where network Chief Auctioneer, Michael McCaffery whipped up spirited
bidding. Nearly $7,000 was raised for First National Foundation.

A substantial
share of the funds we raise go towards helping Australians during times of need
through Australian Red Cross’ Emergency Services.

During the first weeks of February, more than
220 trained Red Cross volunteers provided personal support, food and
water in 17 relief centres to help people affected by the uncontrolled
bushfires in Victoria.

During the fires, 3,011 people registered
their details with Red Cross so that they could reunite with family and
friends who were caught up in the fires. During emergencies, Red Cross
activates Register. Find. Reunite. service to help people in disaster
affected areas to reconnect with their loved ones.

First National
Foundation is a proud sponsor of Australian Red Cross Emergency
Services.

It was a busy summer for Australian Red Cross but with the support of First National Foundation, Red Cross was there, helping people prepare for, respond to and recover from floods, fires, cyclones and heatwaves.

This
amazing First National Real Estate team raised a staggering $33,843 for First
National Foundation in support of the Royal Darwin Hospital’s Children’s Ward
recently.

Hosting
a charity lunch, guests were treated to a traditional Brazilian Grill Feast and
a show.

First National O’Donoghues have been
able to purchase 24 flat screen TV’s so all children in the ward now have TV at
their bedsides. They’ve also purchased 10 sofa beds so parents of sick children
can stay overnight when necessary.

First National Real Estate, through the First National Foundation, has called for all Australians to donate to assist people who have been directly affected by the New South Wales bushfires.

“This week we expected to be assisting Australian Red Cross to raise awareness of the importance of preparation through Disaster Preparedness Week. We did not expect to be responding to the immediate needs created by the New South Wales’ bushfire crisis” Mr Simon O’Donoghue, Chairman of First National Foundation said.

“People across New South Wales are suffering untold losses including their homes, pets, livestock, sentimental and personal effects, and in some cases, their livelihoods as well”.

“Our network’s members are assisting all real estate agencies operating in the Blue Mountains region to re-house people who have lost their homes in these terrible circumstances”.

“At times like these, when communities are threatened by natural disasters, we redouble our fundraising efforts through the Foundation, which donates to the Australian Red Cross and its assistance to Australians in disaster preparation, response and recovery,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

“Even as New South Wales faces one of the worst starts to the fire season in decades, the money we have raised in the past is still being used to assist those areas affected by some of the most devastating disasters in Australia’s history.

“Many of these people are the ones that we have helped to purchase their homes, or move into a new one and we feel their need as much as if it were our own”.

This week, First National Real Estate will provide updates via its Facebook page facebook.com/firstnationalrealestate about ways in which people can make cash donations, or donate items such as blankets, clothing, packaged food or anything to assist bushfire victims.

If you wish to donate please call 131 666 to be connected to your nearest First National office.

Australia is a nation prone to a range of natural, technological
and human caused emergencies.Each year
24 people (on average) lose their lives in bushfires, floods, cyclones and
other natural disasters, almost 600 are injured and up to 390,000 are affected
in some way.The economic cost of
natural disasters is in excess of $3.6 billion annually.Many more people are also affected by power
blackouts, vehicle accidents and other human caused emergencies, with further
significant cost to the nation.

The 2013 Tasmanian bushfires and Queensland
floods demonstrated the heavy toll emergencies can have on people’s health,
well-being and livelihoods, not only the affected communities, but also within
the broader community.

Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural campaign,
First National Foundation, in conjunction with Medibank Community Fund, have
joined forces with Red Cross to assist in educating and encouraging
individuals, households and communities to consider how they can prepare
themselves for a disaster or emergency.

Australian Red Cross continues to work tirelessly
with communities in the two to five year recovery process that follows a major
disaster.They are still very active in
supporting communities which have been affected by some of the most devastating
natural disasters in Australia’s recent history.

With summer approaching, Australian Red Cross and First National
Foundation encourages individuals, households and communities to consider how
they can prepare themselves for a disaster and protect what's most important to
them.